US consumers spent an estimated $813 million adding oils to their coffee, vaping, sipping hemp tea and CBD cold brew, applying salves to their skin and sprinkling CBD on foods this year, following the December 2018 legalization of hemp cultivation (and its non-psychoactive components).
Underpinning the rush to experiment with CBD (cannabidiol) products was the assumption – now false – that “it can’t hurt, so give it a try.” Two major suppliers went so far as to self-affirm that CBD is generally regarded as safe (GRAS).
The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) dispelled that notion Nov. 25 in warning letters to 15 CBD suppliers. The FDA then posted a strongly worded Consumer Update stating that: “CBD has the potential to harm you.”
“We remain concerned that some people wrongly think that the myriad of CBD products on the market, many of which are illegal, have been evaluated by the FDA and determined to be safe, or that trying CBD can’t hurt,” writes FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner Amy Abernethy, MD, PhD.
“The agency wants to be clear that we have seen only limited data about CBD’s safety and these data point to real risks that need to be considered before taking CBD for any reason,” writes FDA.
FDA warns that CBD can result in liver injury and advises of possible interaction with other medicines. Animal studies show CBD decreases testosterone levels and can interfere with development and function of testes and sperm.
Formal warnings state there is “no authorization [federal] for the use of CBD as a food additive” and that dietary supplements formulated with CBD “do not meet the definition of a dietary supplement.” Many states permit cannabidiol products within their jurisdictions, and the FDA did not target companies such as cafes or bottlers that do not make health claims.
The FDA’s actions are controversial. Critics call the warning premature since CBD has not undergone extensive clinical trials typical of those conducted by the pharmaceutical industry. They also point out that FDA’s advisory contradicts findings of the World Health Organization that state that CBD shows no abuse or dependence potential and that “there is no evidence of public health-related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.”
Bill Murray, president and c.e.o. of the National Coffee Association said that “because of the patchwork of laws and regulations governing CBD, as a national association representing coffee industry professionals from across the country, we’ve focused on providing the latest news, research, and resources to our members so they can assess the potential risk and make an informed decision about what’s best for their business.”
- By Dan Bolton